Alappuzha, 01 April (H.S.)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on former minister G. Sudhakaran, criticising his recent political shift and remarks against the CPI(M). Addressing a gathering in Alappuzha, Vijayan accused Sudhakaran of making “baseless allegations” to gain favour within the Congress camp.

The Chief Minister said Sudhakaran, who has now aligned with the Congress, was making statements that contradict his own political past. He is willing to say anything to please his new political masters, Vijayan alleged, adding that such actions reflected a decline in political integrity.

Recalling Sudhakaran’s long association with the CPI(M), Vijayan said the party had nurtured him from his student days and that he owed his political growth and electoral successes to the support of the party and the people. Dismissing Sudhakaran’s claim that his victories were independent of party backing, Vijayan termed it sheer ingratitude and said the public would view such statements with ridicule.

He also rejected Sudhakaran’s recent allegations related to the destruction of the Krishnapillai memorial, suggesting that such claims were politically motivated and aimed at gaining acceptance in his new camp. Vijayan further alleged that personal rivalry, particularly with emerging district leaders like Saji Cherian, could be influencing Sudhakaran’s statements.

The Chief Minister also criticised Sudhakaran for publicly suggesting that he could secure BJP votes in the upcoming elections, calling it proof of his alignment with the BJP. He accused the Congress-led UDF of exposing its political bankruptcy by associating with such opportunistic figures.

Expressing confidence ahead of the elections, Vijayan asserted that the political legacy of Alappuzha would remain intact. He said individual defections would not weaken the movement and predicted a decisive victory for the LDF in Ambalappuzha without losing a single vote.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman